Cat show at Cranbourne

– Brad Kingsbury
CRANBOURNE Cup Day patrons are in for treat before the main event is run and won.
Star local sprinter Apache Cat will have an exhibition gallop prior to the $156,000 Browns Sawdust and Shavings Cranbourne Cup in the gelding’s last public appearance on its home track before jetting to Hong Kong in search of international stardom at the famous Sha Tin racecourse.
Apache Cat will compete in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint over 1200 metres at the Asian racing centre on 14 December.
Trainer Greg Eurell said that the Cranbourne gallop would be part of his stable star’s preparation for a spring campaign aimed at the prestigious international race.
“He’ll probably cover 1000 metres before the cup,” he said.
“He’ll have one, maybe two races here (in Melbourne) and then go straight to Hong Kong for the Sprint.”
Eurell said that leading jockey Corey Brown would fly to Hong Kong with him and his team to take the ride, making it a completely Australian raid.
He added that the race would mark the end of his spring racing and that Apache Cat would return to Melbourne straight after.
“One race over there and then he’ll be quarantined for two weeks afterwards,” he said.
“We’ll bring him home and give him a short break and then start preparing him for the autumn.”
Eurell added that, apart from Apache Cat, he did not think he would have any other runners on the Cranbourne Cup program.
He said he was a little disappointed that he did not have any horses in his stable that could be aimed at his home town cup this year.